12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Luke gives us another glimpse into the growth of the early church. The apostles were witnessing with signs and wonders. The believers were together. Those that did not believe seemed to keep their distance but held them all in high esteem. All the while God continued to add many people to the growing church. The impact of the apostles’ ministry was so great that people brought their sick to Jerusalem and laid them on the streets hoping that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on them to be healed.
But not everyone held them in high esteem. The high priest and the Sadducees with him were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in public prison. But an angel opened the doors, released them, and instructed them to return to the temple and continue preaching the gospel of Jesus’ [resurrected] life. At daybreak, they returned to the temple in obedience and began to teach.
That morning, when the high priest gathered the council and called for the disciples, they found an empty cell. The prison was securely locked and the guards were stationed at the doors but they found no one inside. They were all confused and unsure what the outcome of this situation would be. Then someone came and told them that the men they had put in prison were in the temple teaching the people. The captain and his officers brought the apostles to the council but not by force because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
The council asked the apostles why they were teaching in Jesus’ name when they had been charged not to. They were incensed that the apostles were intent on laying the blame for Jesus’ death on them. Peter as spokesman replied, “We must obey God rather than men.” He then repeated the same message he had spoken before, that God raised Jesus whom they had killed by hanging Him on a tree (1 Pet 2:24). God has exalted Jesus to His right hand as Leader and Saviour who was able to offer forgiveness of sins to Israel for their collective guilt as a nation. They, and the Holy Spirit who indwelt all believers, were witnesses to everything Peter declared.
The religious leaders were enraged to the point of wanting to kill the apostles but Gamaliel, a prominent Pharisee and honoured teacher of the law, interceded with some advice. He reminded them that a previous insurrectionist named Theudas had risen up with four hundred followers but his movement came to nothing. His suggestion was that the same fate was likely for the followers of Jesus. He offered another example in Judas the Galilean whose followers also scattered after he died. His conclusion was that if the apostles were operating by a man-made plan, then it was doomed to fail. But if their movement was of God, then they would have no ability to overthrow it and might find themselves opposing God. They took his advice, beat the apostles, and charged them again not to speak in Jesus’ name before letting them go. The apostles left the council rejoicing that they were given the privilege of suffering for Jesus’ name as a testimony of His resurrection. Despite the warning not to, they continued to teach and preach daily in the temple and from house to house that Jesus is the Christ.
Gamaliel’s observation was correct. If the apostles were operating from some scheme they had imagined to present Jesus as resurrected even though He hadn’t, then their organisation would have fizzled out long ago. But the church is still growing strong today. That can only be possible if Jesus is alive. What if someone asked you to stop talking about Jesus, could you? Are you even in danger of someone asking you to stop?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Spiritual Wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1-2